Laura Freeman's Blog, page 30

Shane by Jack Shaefer

Shane by Jack Shaefer 1949 Bantam Books

[image error]I don’t normally read westerns but this is one I enjoyed. I only recall the movie because Alan Ladd was in it and the final scene where Bob calls for Shane to come back. That scene is not in the book.

Shane, a man with only one name, arrives at a farm where Joe and Marian are trying to establish a farm with other homesteaders. Across the river is a big rancher named Fletcher who wants the farmers gone so he can use their land for grazing. He’s already scared off Joe’s hired man.

The story is told through the eyes of their son, Bob, who doesn’t understand everything going on, but the reader puts the missing pieces together. Shane and Bob become friends. Although he knows Shane is dangerous, he isn’t to his family.

The story shows how the adults form bonds. Joe and Shane, without much talking, wrestle a big stump from the ground, cementing their partnership. Shane is happy to be a farmer, but he’s Joe’s equal. Marian loves her husband, but there is an unspoken connection with Shane. He loves her for accepting him as part of her family.

Fletcher returns to his ranch and begins trouble. His men intimidate Shane to leave, but he fights them, and Joe joins in. Marian is upset for Shane because he wants to escape his past of a gun fighter, but he was forced to fight for them.

Fletcher hires a gun fighter, Wilson, who kills one of the homesteaders. Joe plans to face Fletcher and Wilson, but Shane knocks him out and goes instead. He kills both in the saloon and then rides out of town.

Joe wants to leave the farm and start over, but Marian insists they stay because Shane is part of the farm he helped build while there.

Schaefer shows more about Shane by what he doesn’t say and do. Shane doesn’t carry a gun until the final showdown. He takes a beating but doesn’t let anyone beat him. He tells Bob that a man is who he is. He can’t walk away from being a killer – even in self -defense. He tells Bob to go home and grow strong and straight and take care of his parents. He is a hero and anti-hero.

Westerns have a standard moral: the good guy wins and the bad guy loses, but it takes death, fighting, beatings and self examination to get to the ending. A character like Joe, Shane, and Fletcher are in most Westerns. If you plan to write one, you should read this book.

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Montana Sky

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 1997 Jove

[image error]Years ago a co-worker loaned me this book. It was the first Nora Roberts novel I read. I remembered parts of it, especially the ending and looked for the signs of foreshadowing and the use of the secondary villain to divert attention from the killer.

The story is simple in that three half-sisters have to live together on a 25,000-acre cattle ranch in Montana in order to inherit the ranch worth $20 million. Jack Mercy was a lousy father, and the will seems unfair to Willa who grew up there and has proven she can run the ranch. Tess is a writer and longs for the Hollywood life she left behind. Lily is escaping an abusive husband.

Roberts creates fully-developed characters in her stories. She spends a lot of time with each one, their families, their faults, and how they become better people by the end of the story. Not only do each of the sisters find true love, they learn what it means to be a family.

The men are mature except for Ben who can’t figure out why Willa drives him crazy. They complement the women and provide plenty of hot scenes that Roberts excels at writing.

Tess provides the humor to the story with her city girl out of her element reactions. Lily causes the reader concern as her ex-husband plans to teach her a lesson for leaving her. Willa must wrestle with her feelings for a neglectful father and the confusing attentions of Ben.

While all the personal drama is going on, someone is killing steers and then cowboy, Pickles is not only mutilated but scalped. A girl is left at the doorstep of the ranch, mutilated and scalped. Roberts doesn’t hold back on the violence and fear. The ending is a surprise but not unexpected with all the clues given by Roberts.

Roberts uses the omniscient point of view, dipping in and out of every character’s head to tell her story. Some minor characters get a few paragraphs that could have been handle a different way. One thing that bugged me was the use of Will instead of Willa, sometimes in the same paragraph. I kept asking myself, “Who is Will?”

Names are important in a story. I have found that they should be short. Look at Tess, Lily, Ben, Nate, and Adam used in this story. All short names. If you use a nickname to shorten a long name, stick to the shorter version through the rest of the story.

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The Cricket in Times Square

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden 1960 Dell publisher

[image error]This is a children’s book and reminds me of Charlotte’s Web.

A cricket named Chester, who lived in Connecticut, is trapped in a picnic basket and transported to Times Square where he meets Tucker the mouse and Harry the cat. Chester becomes the pet of Mario Bellini who works at his parent’s news stand. He buys a cricket house in Chinatown and they tell him the story of the first cricket.

The three animals go through a series of adventures when Chester eats a $2 bill and then they have a party and nearly burn down the news stand. To help keep Mario’s mother from getting rid of him, Chester plays an Italian song she likes with his wings. The music teacher writes a story about the performing cricket, and Chester becomes famous. As fall approaches Chester misses Connecticut and realizes he no longer enjoys making music. He says good-bye to Mario and heads home at the height of his popularity. His friends talk about visiting the country next year.

The story shares the sights and sounds of Times Square, Chinatown, and the world of the animals. It shows how three animals (people) can become friends and help each other in a crisis. It also shows that happiness is more important than money when Chester chooses to go home even though he is famous. I’d recommend this for a child’s reading list if they haven’t read it already.

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Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts

Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts 1991 Bantam Books

[image error]Carnal Innocence places Yankee Caroline Waverly, an overworked world-renowned violinist in a the southern town of Innocence where Tucker Longstreet is a lazy, womanizing suspect in a murder. The best way to create tension in a romance is to link opposites together. Caroline and Tucker are wary of each other from the minute he nearly runs her over in his new red sportscar.

Roberts combines the murder and romance seamlessly and one of her trademarks is to have an obvious villain and a hidden villain. Both villains are evil but the hidden one isn’t revealed until the end and is often a surprise to the reader. Roberts also plants several clues, some obvious, some subtle, to hint at what is to come.

She spends a lot of time on setting but the reader is put into a hot, lazy southern town not only in the description but the slow, rambling stories the men share that drive a Yankee crazy for them to get to the point.

Tucker and Caroline uncover secrets and truths about each other as the story progresses and help each other grow. Roberts takes her time leading to the point when they realizes they are in love. She also ramps up the danger to Caroline that takes the reader to the dramatic last pages.

Roberts brings in a lot of characters and uses them well, each with a role either in solving the murder or advancing the romance. She ties up the loose ends while opening another path that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next.

Another important lesson is if you show a gun, use it, and Roberts does just that in a surprising way.

Whether you are a fan of Roberts or not, you can learn from her writing.

In this book Roberts tells the story in third person omniscient point of view and slides easily into each characters’ thoughts even if it’s only for a few paragraphs. It can cause pause as the reader tries to figure out what character is sharing his/her thoughts at the time. It helps to reveal inner feelings, but some of the characters could have shared thoughts verbally or through action. But you can’t argue with success.

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The Light In The Forest

The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter 1953 by Bantam Books

[image error]This is a book I was required to read in 8th grade. I know this because my name and 8B are written on the first page. My younger brother’s name is also written in the book and was required to read it.

I believe it was part of Ohio History since the setting is Ohio and the Delaware Indians. The story is about True Son who was kidnapped and raised by the Delaware Indians when he was four. He is 15 now. The soldiers have arrives to take all white captives back with them. He doesn’t want to go. His cousin Half Arrow and Little Crane, whose wife is white and being taken, follow at a distance. They say good-bye near Fort Pitt.

The story shows both ways of life. The Indian loves nature, hunting, and believes a man can’t own the and or possessions. True Son, whose name is Johnny, is reunited with his parents and little brother, Gordie, who adores him. He doesn’t like the clothes and work of the whites and spends the winter with them.

In the spring of 1765 Half Arrow and Little Crane arrive but Little Crane is killed and scalped by the white men, including True Son’s uncle. They nearly scalp him in revenge and flee. They return to the Delaware tribe but they want revenge for Little Crane’s death. True Son is told to stand in the river and lure a flatboat of whites near the bank where the Indians are waiting. He is willing to do it until he sees a young boy who reminds him of Gordie. He always believed Indians didn’t kill children but some of the men have already killed a child. He warns the whites. The Delaware warriors want to burn him as punishment but his father defends his life but says they will part ways and be enemies from that point on.

I don’t remember the lessons we were supposed to learn from this book, but it only brings up the lifestyles of each side, presenting them from True Son’s point of view. Neither side is portrayed as good or bad. They are at war, and True Son is caught in the middle. They force him to be white but neither side wants him. He is biracial without being biracial. He is being forced to live a certain way – white instead of any blending of cultures.

It shows how throughout history, we have separated people into different groups, often based on skin color, but also by culture instead of learning from each other and choosing the best of all cultures.

Do you remember reading this book or some other required reading in school? Have you read it again as an adult? Years of living can change your viewpoint.

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Hot Ice by Nora Roberts

Hot Ice by Nora Roberts 1987 Bantam Books

[image error]Like many, I’m working from home and catching up on my reading in my spare time during the coronavirus outbreak. Last summer I bought 14 Nora Roberts books at a yard sale. I’ve already reviewed Sue Grafton’s 25 books, A through Y, and I’ve read and reviewed J.D. Robb’s books (Nora’s alter ego). As a writer I’m looking at what makes Nora so successful. I’m starting with the oldest book 1987 and working toward her more modern writings.

Hot Ice is a mixture of Romancing the Stone and How to Steal a Million. The story is more about the interaction and relationship between the man and woman than the jewels. The characters are opposites who battle wits as they are increasingly drawn to one another

Whitney McAlister is a bored heiress and Doug Lord is a thief who steals enough to enjoy the good life before a pretty girl takes his last dollar or he runs out of cash. He was hired by very bad guy Dimitri to steal papers dating from the French Revolution, leading to a box of jewels. When he arrives to turn over the papers, he realizes they want to kill him instead. He runs off and jumps into Whitney’s car as they bad guys give chase. Whitney is no longer bored as the journey takes them to exotic Madagascar.

Roberts throws us into the action immediately and never lets up on the gas. Her chapters are long with only 16 chapters total in the 356 pages of the paperback. She uses two stereotypes, the spoiled rich heiress and the charming thief but builds on them by giving each vulnerabilities and depth shown in the struggles and interaction with other along their journey. They become wary partners who outwit each other and then the bad guys, who are very bad, which puts them in real danger. You never know how they are going to get out of trouble. These are bad guys that have no redeemable characteristics.

Robert makes us love the characters more than the plot. It’s a treasure hunt. They’ll find the treasure. They each have different plans for the treasure, but they have to find it first. The dialogue is smart back and forth. Whitney is no helpless damsel in distress. She’s smart, resourceful, and uses her wits to stay alive and outmaneuver Doug when necessary. Doug who has no strings attached to him, begins to get tangled up.

Whitney is the type of heroine readers want to be. That’s key to any story. When you create a character, they need to be a little bolder, smarter, and braver than the ordinary person. Let your reader fantasize a little and be that person.

Roberts uses head hopping effortlessly but it is frowned upon in today’s writing. When the point of view changes between characters, there normally is a definite break or a new chapter when the POV changes. Roberts slipped into a POV for a minor character a few times as well. This was published in 1987 and is part of Roberts style, but most writers should avoid it. I was told to rewrite my first novel because I was a J.D. Robb fan and was head hopping.

What else did I learn for the book? Even a romance novel needs research. Roberts describes Madagascar, its animals, flowers, and people. She inserts French history into the novel. Research is important in any writing. Learn how to do it.

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Christmas Cow Bells

Christmas Cow Bells by Mollie Cox Bryan 2019 by Kensington Books

[image error]This is a cozy mystery that uses three cows named Buttercup, Marigold, and Petunia. Owner Brynn MacAlister wants to make cheese at the rectory she purchased. She originally made the plans with boyfriend Dan but he cheated on her so she’s on her own. Her neighbor Nancy wants to renovate the church she owns next door for a market place for those making organic foods like Brynn.

The church is burned down and Nancy dies but not before giving Brynn a cryptic message. Nancy’s family comes town and she befriends the two grandsons, Wes and Max who help her with the cows.

Brynn begins to receive threats like a dead crow nailed to her door. The sheriff and fire marshall don’t seem to take her seriously and tell her to leave the investigation to the experts. This is a common theme in cozy mysteries to allow the amateur sleuth to investigate and get into trouble.

The small town has plenty of suspects, but I was disappointed in the guilty party. Brynn’s ex-boyfriend never makes an appearance to cause trouble and a drug network could have been more developed. Maybe that will happen in the next book.

The story provides plenty of fun with the cows and characters. The reader will learn about cheese and cheese making, and like most cozy mysteries, there are recipes in the back of the book.

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Apple Cider Slaying

Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey 2019 by Kensington Books

[image error]This cozy mystery hits all the elements of the genre with cute names like Granny Smythe, two playful kittens, a small town, and the murder of someone everyone disliked, Nadine Cooper.

Winnie and widowed grandmother, Granny Smythe, are trying to turn the farm and orchard into a tourist attraction to pay the bills. She has been making cider recipes since a child and the author includes the recipe of one as well as other dishes in the back of the book.

Winnie is hoping to impress the banker. Mr. Sherman, so he’ll approve a loan to turn the Mail Pouch barn into a gathering place she can rent out for parties. While showing him around, they find the body of neighbor, Nadine, in the cider press.

The new sheriff, Colton Wise, begins his investigation. He’s former military and has worked with the FBI. He doesn’t like Winnie asking questions around town, and warns her more than once to stay out of his investigation.

After Winnie receives a threatening note, she agrees, but then she is nearly run off the road. Someone doesn’t like her snooping around.

Lindsey gives the reader several suspects and throws in an ex-boyfriend. The story builds to a dangerous confrontation for Winnie.

The book is the first in a series and Lindsey has introduced plenty of characters to bring back in the next book. She has left room for her ex-boyfriend to cause problems, especially with any romance with Colton, who has a secret not revealed in this book.

For someone looking for a cozy mystery series, this is one to try. The writing is clean of errors, fast paced, and entertaining.

The Devil’s Own Game by Annie Hogsett

The Devil’s Own Game by Annie Hogsett 2019 published by Poison Pen Press

[image error]Hogsett is a local Northeast Ohio author and a member of Sisters in Crime, a must for mystery writers. This is the third in a series about Tom Bennington who won $550 million in the lottery trying to teach a boy that gambling doesn’t pay. But it does. Allie Harper is his partner as amateur sleuths who founded the T&A Detective Agency. Yes, they aren’t the brightest when naming a company.

The story is told from Allie’s point of view. She uses one-word sentences and has an inner personality named Lee Ann who is a slutty teen pickpocket and a reminder of her youth. Allie is down to earth, knows her shortcomings, and is in love with Tom, who is the quiet intellectual who is good with his hands.

The money turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing as they lose former jobs and attempts are made on their lives in the previous novels. This one proves that life hasn’t improved by moving to a cottage by Lake Erie.

This mystery begins at the Cleveland Art Museum, a local landmark but familiar to anyone who visits Cleveland. Tom, who is blind, bumps into another blind man, Kip Wade, and they exchange heated words. In less than an hour he will be dead from a sniper’s bullet while sitting along the lagoon. It’s a message to Tom and Allie from a crazy man out of their past. The bodies begin to pile up. The T&A takes on a case during the wait for the sniper to attack again. They solve it, but someone ends up dead, thanks to the sniper. Hogsett adds an interesting twist about the killer and keeps us guessing on what will happen next.

Hogsett paces her murder mystery with plenty of characters, clues, and humor. Cleveland is the perfect setting without boring the reader with too many details. Subplots bring in old friends and an ex-husband to flesh out the story and provide backstory. She builds to a nail-biting climax when the killer tracks Tom and Allie to the basement of the museum.

If you like a mystery, this is an author to try.

Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker

This is the final of the nine-part series. I loved the original three, hated the Phantom Menace but found the last three redeeming, especially because they brought back Han, Luke and Leia. It would have been nice to have all three together before they began killing them off.

I saw this one at the theater so I can only comment on first impressions and what I remember. The narration at the beginning lets us know the Emperor is back and Ben/Kylo Ren doesn’t want to lose his power as Supreme Leader of the galaxy. He visits the Emperor on Exegol who tells him he made Snoke and promises him everything if he kills Rey and ends the Jedi.

Poe, Finn, and Chewie are working together while Leia trains Rey. They go looking for the crystal that will lead them to the Emperor. Ben warns Rey that the Emperor wants her dead and tries to tell her about her parents.

Lando Calrissian makes an appearance and helps them. He helps recruit other resistance fighters when Leia couldn’t.

Finn has a secret to tell Rey but never does. I think he wants to tell her he has the Force but others think more romantically. He has Rose, Rey, and Lando’s lost daughter, Jannah, all wanting to be on Team Finn.

Rey shows her healing power on a slug creature which foreshadows her healing Ben.

This story has some dramatic moments such as when she thinks she has killed Chewie by blowing up the ship he’s on by accidentally using Force lightning. Ben still wants her to help kill the Emperor and rule with him on the Throne of Sith.

Ben tells Rey the Emperor killed her parents, and she realizes they were trying to protect her from him. Rey returns to Luke’s island to hide out and throws her lightsaber away only to have Luke catch it. He raises his X-Wing for her and gives her Leia’s lightsaber.

“You are not alone,” he tells her and this story is all about friendship, the glue that made the first three movies memorable. He warns her that if she kills Palpatine, she will become the Sith Lord.

This also happens on the Jedi side if you see the person die, they surrender their life force. We saw Obi-Wan give Luke his life force in A New Hope. Then Yoda dies and gives his life force To Luke. This may explain why Leia and Luke appear to Rey at the end. They’ve given their life force to her. I thought Ben should have shown up, too, like Anakin did at the end of The Return of the Jedi.

They go to Endor where the Old Death Star wreckage is on the planet. Leia and Ben duel in some amazing special effects. Leia speaks to Ben and Rey wounds him. She then heals him. There is a beautiful heart-tugging scene between Ben and Han, and Ben throws away his Sith lightsaber and turns to the light. Ben and Rey join forces at the end and it appears that Palpatine has killed them both. Rey uses both lightsabers to turn Palpatine’s powers back on himself but dies from the effort. Ben gives her his life power, which he received from Leia and saves her. I’m not sure why he had to die. After all the kiss made it appear there would be many little Skywalkers-Solo in their future, which makes the title seem appropriate. For Ben being a descendent of Palpatine, that’s only if you buy into the Midi-chlorian theory and Palpatine creating Anakin, which I thought was far-fetched.

Subplot: We learn Poe had a girlfriend, and they are reunited for some lively banter. Poe finally gets to show more than his piloting skills, but it’s too short.

C3PO makes the sacrifice of his memory for his friends. We also learn the First Order captured children to turn them into slaves or Stormtroopers. This is a little bit hypocritical since Jedi took young children from their families and trained them to be Jedi. What are all these people going to do without a war?

Big surprise: Hux is the spy that helped them but his reason is to get rid of Ben. He gets his just reward.

Running line: Never underestimate a droid.

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